Johannesburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda.
Al Jama-ah party leader says there is no indication that Johannesburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda’s job is on the line. This despite cracks beginning to appear in the city’s coalition arrangement.
Speaking in an interview with Newzroom Afrika on Monday, Ganief Hendricks said leaders in the African National Congress (ANC) had assured him that Gwamanda’s position as mayor was secure.
“No structure of the ANC, whether its the regional committee of the ANC, or the provincial leadership, or the national leadership, or the Big 7 [sic], have made any decision with regards to the mayorship of the City of Johannesburg,” he said.
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‘Holding the fort’
Gwamanda was installed as mayor in 2023 when negotiations between ANC and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) reached a stalemate over the executive position. With ActionSA now willing to work with ANC, on the condition that Gwamanda is removed, council may be in for a shake up.
But Hendricks said their mayor had done a good job running the country’s economic hub. He also said Al Jama-ah’s relationship with the ANC is “sound”.
“We are now holding the fort for 16 months on behalf of the liberation movement which consisted of parties founded in the foundational principles. Our position is that no structure of the ANC has made that decision.”
ActionSA had previously refused to work with the corruption-tainted ANC. However, the green party took an about turn after meeting last weekend. Said Funzi Ngobeni, provincial chair:
“The politics of today in particular gives us an indication that that phrase of not wanting to work with puppets is no longer really going to work, or at least to assist political parties like ourselves who want to really make a difference in the lives of our residents.”
